Diane Did It

I used to be . . .

2012-01-29T15:49:00.001-06:00

Blouse Cuffs

Today I realized I'd made a mistake and forgotten to get a number in the 8800's re-assigned (and since Beth is now assigning 9300's that's pretty far behind). Luckily, I had this piece on my design wall all but finished - waiting for the buttons and the backing. So I quick finished it up and got it registered as 8885 and filled a hole in our numerical order neatly. These are actual blouse cuffs that were so pretty, I decided to deconstruct them to see if I could save the lace. Then I won some fabric paper on Fannie Narte's blog and I held it behind the salvaged lace and thought it looked pretty. Lightly batted with felt, I quilted around the circles in the lace and laid a strip of blouse fabric down to cover the center where the two cuffs met. I wanted to keep the lace edges intact, so I backed the whole thing with a piece of fabric covered Timtex. Glad it's off my design wall and will be on it's way to earn money for Alzheimer's research for the AAQI.

Humming Along

2012-01-26T16:43:00.000-06:00

I signed up for a Craftsy.com workshop called Stupendous Stitching with Carol Ann Waugh. The class was aimed at making larger collage works, but I wanted to try it out small with a Priority Quilt for the Alzheimer's Art Quilt Initiative. I find myself unable to create a collage without a significant focal point, so I built this little piece around a hummingbird.

Nelumbo

2012-01-21T20:09:00.001-06:00

Nelumbo is a genus of aquatic plants with large, showy flowers resembling water lilies, commonly known as lotus. The American lotus is found in North America and the Caribbean. I was searching the internet for an Asian flower to paint on some Asian themed background and came up with the lotus. Nelumbo will be donated as a Priority Quilt for the Alzheimer's Art Quilt Initiative. The background fabric had too wide a repeat, so I sliced it up and re-assembled pieces on a sheet of Lutradur. Then, on a whim, I glued the pieces together with a luminescent glue that was laying on top of my shelving unit. I stitched the flower first, then painted it and finished it off with some Pearl Ex for some color variation. The binding is painted background fabric.

Sister Gifts

2012-01-19T20:21:00.000-06:00

I have two sisters and one sister-in-law who are very dear to me. We exchange gifts every Christmas that we call Sister Gifts - the rules are simple: it has to be hand made. We've shared lovely gifts over the years and every time I start to think we've covered all the bases (there are no more hand made things to give) we all come up with really neat stuff.This year I gave two sister gifts because when Dad died last December I never got mine finished. That particular project remains unfinished. I made two new things.

The birds are a note or picture holder. The bags were silk blanks from Dharma that I painted and then beaded.I'll take pictures of the gifts I received in the next day or so and post them.

Happy New Year!

2012-01-01T14:14:00.001-06:00

I must say I got out at the best time of the day. When I walked over to the Mather to put in an hour of volunteering the sun was out, the sky was blue with smallish white fluffy clouds in it. I wanted to somehow gather up all the residents on my floor and take them outside to see it, but of course, that wasn't possible. At any rate, it was a lovely start to my day and now it's blowing bits of sleety snow everywhere. I'm now happily snuggled in.I did add some beads to my Wild Cat piece and I think it really improved it. It was too dark and almost boring, I think - all that olive green and black! I truly believe in serendipity as I had just bought these flat yellow beads for flower centers and they were laying out on my worktable when I was re-thinking Wild Cat. They are the perfect addition!

The King Speaks

2011-12-29T20:28:00.002-06:00

Finished this one yesterday. It feels SO GOOD to be quilting again! This one came entirely out of the donations of Michael McNamara and Interior Effects. The lion and the flowers are upholstery fabric, the background silk curtain fabric.

There's a project afoot . . .

2011-12-26T18:55:00.001-06:00

I had to look up afoot. Make sure it was a real word - and it is: astir, in progress. Online dictionaries are really cool anyway - they usually have all sorts of info just there for the looking. The word of the day is solatium.

Anyway, is there a project afoot, or did my favorite bead store just have a 25% off sale? The answer is "yes" and "yes". I've discovered I enjoy beading, now that I found a needle threader that will thread those teeny tiny hole beading needles. It's called the Escort II and it has the name written in Japanese figures below that, probably because it's made by Kawaguchi Co. in Japan.

And beads are pretty cheap! You can build up quite a stash pretty inexpensively and they're really pretty to look at! And you can watch TV without feeling guilty (I never was any good at knitting or even crochet). Right after I found the needle threader that works, I started beading the quilt below and now I can't stop! I think I'll finish the parrot's wing and then stop.

By the way solatium means compensation for inconvenience, loss or injury.

Finally . . .

2011-12-25T20:41:00.000-06:00

I'm a pretty crummy blogger. I never think to blog about cool things that happen. Here's one:The other day I went with a friend to an Interior Design shop that is downsizing and the owner offered to donate material to me since I make quilts for the AAQI. Talk about being a kid in a candy store! I found so many wonderful pieces my head was spinning. Here's a shot of about a quarter of my haul.

This is the quilt I made today - the tiger was a piece of upholstery fabric and the twill was part of the goodies I got too.

This is an exciting time of year!

2011-11-01T10:00:00.000-05:00

This week, the AAQI booth will open at Quilt Festival in Houston with over 1,500 Priority Quilts. If you're going to Houston, look in Row T near the front. I am not going to be there - I'm holding down the fort chained to my computer for the duration.

AND the monthly auction that started today has some very special quilts in it. Ricky, Alex, Holly, Becky, Caryl, Hollis - such fun dropping names! You gotta go take a look!

Priority Quilt (8.75x11 inches) raises $805 for Alzheimer's Research

2011-10-14T13:45:00.000-05:00

Linda Woodard of Marion, Illinois, raised $805 for the Alzheimer’s Art Quilt Initiative (AAQI) with her donated 8.75 inches by 10 inches quilt which sold during the charity's October auction. The AAQI holds online auctions during the first ten days of every month. Woodard's quilt, Making Waves in the Fight Against Alzheimer’s, sets a new AAQI record for Priority: Alzheimer's Quilt sales, surpassing Sue Nickels' quilt, This Bud's For You, which sold for $350 in 2006.

"I am in shock—a good shock. How exciting!" said Woodard after the auction closed." She continued, "I loved making the quilt and grew very attached to it. I know the person who purchased it will love it too. I am so pleased that my quilt raised so much for Alzheimer's research."

Woodard's quilt was created as part of a challenge issued by the Shawnee Quilters of Southern Illinois. The group has supported the AAQI for several years through the AAQI's Priority: Alzheimer's Quilts project. More than 8,500 quilts (none larger than 9" x 12") have been donated by quilt guilds and individual quilters since 2006 as quilters make finding a cure for Alzheimer's a priority in their lives.

The AAQI's November auction (November 1-10) in honor of National Alzheimer's Awareness Month features quilts by Alex Anderson, Hollis Chatelain, John Flynn, Becky Goldsmith, Renae Haddadin, Sue Nickels, Caryl Bryer Fallert, Pat Holly, Libby Lehman, Judy Mathieson, Mary Sorensen, and Ricky Tims as they compete in the "Stanley Cup Quilt-Off."

The Alzheimer's Art Quilt Initiative (www.alzquilts.org) is a national, grassroots charity whose mission is to raise awareness and fund research. It auctions and sells donated quilts through the Priority: Alzheimer's Quilt project and sponsors a touring exhibit of quilts about Alzheimer's called "Alzheimer's Illustrated: From Heartbreak to Hope." The Alzheimer's Art Quilt Initiative has raised more than $591,000 since January 2006.

Alzheimer's Illustrated: From Heartbreak to Hope will be in Madison, Wisconsin next month!

2011-08-19T08:04:00.002-05:00

"Alzheimer's Illustrated: From Heartbreak to Hope" continues its five-year journey across the United States with a stop at Quilt Expo, September 8-10. The exhibit will hang in Exhibition Hall at the Alliant Energy Center in Madison, Wisconsin.

Show hours are 9am to 6pm daily.
For more information, please contact call 866-297-6545 or email wiquiltexpo@wpt.org.

"Alzheimer's Illustrated: From Heartbreak to Hope" is an exhibit of quilts about Alzheimer's sponsored by the Alzheimer's Art Quilt Initiative (AAQI). Fifty-four small format art quilts (9" x 12") illustrate the disease from a variety of perspectives. They hang among 182 "Name Quilts," each 6 inches wide and 7 feet tall, which carry the names of more than 10,000 individuals who have/had Alzheimer's or a related dementia. The names of loved ones, written on fabric patches by family members and friends, honor the 5.4 million Americans in the United States struggling with Alzheimer's disease.

Ami Simms, AAQI Founder and Executive Director will present "Quilting & Caring: The Alzheimer's Art Quilt Initiative" at 8:30am on Friday, September 9th in the Waubesa WA room on the second floor. Tickets available here.

"Alzheimer's Illustrated: From Heartbreak to Hope" is exhibited at Quilt Expo through the generous support of Wisconsin Public Television, Nancy Zieman Productions, and the Professional Art Quilt Alliance (PAQA).

Improvisational Quilt

2011-08-13T22:01:00.000-05:00

I've been thinking about Ricky Tims' All That Jazz: Improvisational Quilt call for entries. Deadline is September 30th and the quilts will be displayed at the Road to California Quilt Show January 19-22, 2012. Quilts will be juried but not judged.

The other day I made a background out of used Shout Color Catcher sheets fused to a piece of stabilizer. I made it long and narrow for the simple reason that 2 across and 10 down seemed to look nice, it fit the challenge specs and I figured it'd be easier to quilt.

I really like the texture of the color catcher sheets. Because of their dull colors, though, I was thinking bright colors would be needed to keep it interesting. I toyed with the idea of a long and narrow stained glass piece. Then I was looking at a book of American Indian motifs and I was thinking about a long and narrow design that echoed some of those pieces. Neither was totally convincing me.

Keeping with the recycled material idea, I was thinking about how to use used tea bags when I came up with the idea of fashioning them into a rope and having flowers blooming out of it. I glued a bunch together and twisted them, but think I'll have to braid it to make is stable enough. Of course, now I can't find my container of cleaned open tea bags. It'll show up.

Then I started wondering about quilting it. Came up with some ideas from the class I took at MMQS but I didn't think an all over pattern was what I wanted. Then I clicked on the free show that TQS is showing this weekend with Jean Wells and noticed how she'd done a really cool background on one of her quilts - sort of leaves and grasses and flowers. I think I can do that if I draw it out on the background first. I'm not confident enough to just let the machine take it away, although I'm sure there will be some unintentional improv.

So I'm letting it sit for a day while I decide if it's what I really want and then there's also the thought running through my head that this isn't a unique idea, although the way I make it will be unique. I hate to think I'm poaching on someone else's idea . . .

Purrfection!

2011-07-29T09:26:00.000-05:00

My latest Priority Quilt for the Alzheimer's Art Quilt Initiative!

Quilters Finance Alzheimer’s Research!

2011-07-28T14:57:00.000-05:00

The Alzheimer’s Art Quilt Initiative has awarded a grant of $25,000 to the University of Pittsburgh for a study led by Dr. Nicholas Fitz. Read more here.

This award was made possible by a donation of $25,386 to the Alzheimer’s Art Quilt Initiative by Island Batik, Inc.

Dr Fitz is the owner of Priority: Alzheimer’s Quilt #4658 (Day Turns Into Night) made by Ida Hansen of Odem, TX.

When he thanked the Alzheimer’s Art Quilt Initiative for funding his current research he wrote, “I am very grateful for the tireless time and efforts provided by all of the quilt makers and volunteers of your organization. As an owner of one of the donated quilts I truly understand all of the time and care needed to complete one of these small works of art. I have my quilt hanging in our laboratory and every time I look at it I am reminded of all the patients, family members, and friends that are affected by this disease.”

Every quilt counts in the fight against Alzheimer’s.

The Presurfer: The Alzheimer's Art Quilt Initiative

2011-07-04T09:44:00.000-05:00

The Presurfer: The Alzheimer's Art Quilt Initiative

Quilts For Sale

2011-06-22T08:53:00.004-05:00

ALZHEIMER'S ART QUILT INITIATIVE
Priority Quilts For Sale!
Money is tight. The economy is wobbling. If you need a lift, just go look at these quilts. You might even find one that is within your disposable income limits. Or one that is just right for someone you need to buy a gift for. Throw caution to the winds! Or just dream a little dream. It won't hurt to look!

2011-06-21T11:22:00.002-05:00

Island Batik donates 25K! Amazing generosity! I tell 'ya, next time I'm buying batiks, I'll be checking for those by Island Batik!

Mather Experiment

2011-06-16T18:56:00.003-05:00

I volunteer for an afternoon program at my local nursing home - one of the many Mather Lifeways - and I'm always dreaming up new stuff to "do". Today I wanted to experiment with making art quilts, so I used SteamASeam on a bunch of different fabric scraps and came up with a sort of "kit". Background with stems already in place, and a sheet of transparency film with a bunch of cut out flower shapes. I used a plain white background, but fused it onto a colored back sheet because I read that dementia causes loss of depth of field vision in many. I put a black border on the transparency too but that was mostly for me - hard to keep track of those babies!
Now these are all ladies with fairly severe dementia, so the test was if what I gave them was enough information or not. Only one of the five ladies I had playing with me today grasped it right away and began to place the flowers on her own. One slept through the whole exercise and the other three needed me to peel the flowers off the transparency and hand them over. But all were able to get the concept of putting the flowers down on the fabric, although I got a lot of "where does this go?" questions. Anyway we ended up with 4 pretty cute pieces of fabric art, which I will now quilt and finish.

Now the goal is to donate these to the AAQI but I have to find out if there are any legal ramifications - these women aren't exactly capable of signing a consent form. But even if I can't donate them, it was a lot of fun and everybody was very impressed with the ladies' work and there were a lot of smiles!

New Priority Quilt

2011-06-15T11:40:00.003-05:00

I've been spending so much time scanning quilts for the AAQI and working on the website that I haven't had time to be creative lately. I got a chance recently when my sister opened her new studio to my Mom and my sister-in-law. I actually worked on 4 quilts, but only finished one - and it's taken me weeks to get around to registering it . . . but TA DA! This one is called Heart of Flowers and my artist's statement reads:
I was in my sister's studio with an embroidery machine and scraps from other quilters laying around - and I couldn't resist using either of them!

I named my newest Priority quilt Abundance

2011-03-03T12:41:00.002-06:00

I got the concept from a Dover royalty-free image and the fabric paper from Joggles.com. I love using fabric paper for fusible appliqué because it cuts and stays fray-free. The Dover image was just a sort of curve of pedal-shaped shapes and I read it as a flower so took it from there. The background is commercial batik, and the binding is hand dyed fabric from Beth at QuiltersStitchTogether.com. FMQed in leaves.

One World One Heart 2011

2011-01-30T18:01:00.017-06:00

THE WINNER IS CHRISTINA FROM CHRISINA'S CREATIVE MOMENTS!

OWOH LIST OF BLOGGERS
One World One Heart is a worldwide event for bloggers only. It gives all those who blog a chance to meet and mingle and form connections with those they may not have otherwise met from all over the world. In the past 4 years this event has grown to over 1,000 participants with lasting friendships (and even one love connection) formed along the way. Think of it as a GIGANTIC open house allowing you to travel without ever leaving your home........going from blog to blog(in various countries) seeing the wonder each one has created and meeting all the fabulous people behind those blogs. As a bonus each blogger participant will offer up a "door prize or prizes"....just for dropping by, saying hello and seeing their world. It's really that easy.

Welcome to Diane Did It!!! I love mixed media art! I especially love fabric, tho, so even when I digress from that media, most of my pieces seem to begin and end with fabric. My OWOH doorprize is a 12x12 wall hanging about the color purple!

True to form, Purple Soul begins with a piece of muslin on which I adhere all sorts of paper and scrips and scraps of purple fabric sealed with tissue paper and topped by some Jolee scrapbooking flowers and free motion quilted flowers. It's 12 in. x12 in. and all about purple. Finished with quilt binding (had to get more fabric in there!).

If you would like a chance to win Purple Soul, just leave a comment, making sure there is a way to contact you if you are the lucky winner. I will use a random number generator to pick the blog post that reveals the winner. That winner will be announced Feb. 17th and that I will email the winner as well as post it.

I know this is a crazy time to be browsing other posts on people's blogs, but if you like mixed media/fiber art, click to "follow" this blog and come back to visit now and then! I only post about art and I try to give some steps for each piece I post so that you can get inspiration.

Thanks for stopping by!

Another Heartbreak To Hope preview

2011-01-26T12:40:00.007-06:00

If you are in Florida, you can get a sneak preview of the AAQI's new traveling exhibit, "Alzheimer's Illustrated: From Heartbreak to Hope." Approximately a dozen Name Quilts will be on display on Friday, January 28 from 4-6pm at Quilters' Choice (Jupiter, FL).

And here's the really cool part! Shelli Lockhart, from WPBF-25, a Florida ABC affiliate, liked my quilt FEAR.

Tea Bag Flower

2011-01-13T14:24:00.002-06:00

My newest Alzheimer's: Priority Quilt. I used a Rust-Tex background with strips of commercial vintage print and walnut ink stained pink ribbon. Flower is started with riped tea bags edged with tri color cording, also walnut-ink stained to tone down colors. Plastic button was re-colored with alchohol inks and the center is more of the cording.

Just sent the email off to register it!

I'm on TV!

2010-12-06T12:42:00.005-06:00

Well, internet TV, but still . . . it's a real show, shot in a studio with lights, cameras and action and a live studio audience (I'm in the far left corner - you can hardly see me) in Boulder. I hope you can take the time to watch the whole thing so you can see why I love Ami and why I spend so much of my time volunteering for the Alzheimer's Art Quilt Initiative. There's a picture of my Mom looking at my sister Beth Hartford's quilt towards the beginning . . . a silhouette of Dad on a sunset. Also, in the "after show" they did a slide show and there's a picture of me with Dad and a picture of a couple of the name quilts I collected names for and quilted.

You can now watch show #712 featuring Ami Simms and the new Alzheimer's Exhibit by clicking here: The Quilt Show. If you want to subscribe to The Quilt Show, use this coupon code for a 20% discount on a 6 month membership: 125030263501 (membership begins January 1, 2011), and by filling out a short form you can watch for the entire month of December for free. Please check it out!

If we've got you curious, look around on the AAQI site. If you're still looking for Christmas presents, check out the Quilts for Sale page!

More publicity for The Quilt Show Episode 712 with Ami Simms

2010-12-03T16:00:00.006-06:00

Photo slideshow customized with Smilebox

These are mostly "behind the scenes" pictures. The last one is the whole group from the AAQI. Right to left Alex Anderson, Kathy Kennedy-Dennis, Susan Pain, Mary Lecea, me, Ami Simms, my sister Beth Hartford and Ricky Tims.

Episode 712 of The Quilt Show

2010-12-02T20:33:00.006-06:00

Click here to watch the trailer for Episode 712.

For those of you who don't already know, The Quilt Show, starring Alex Anderson and Ricky Tims is an online quilting show. They (collectively and personally) have been very supportive of the Alzheimer's Art Quilt Initiative.

My sister Beth Hartford and I flew to Boulder for the taping of this show. We, along with Susan Pain and Kathy Kennedy-Dennis, were "roadies" for Ami Simms. The show was REALLY well done, it was fascinating to be behind the scenes, and Ami was terrific! The show explained a bit about what the AAQI does and why we do it, and unveiled a part of the new travelling exhibit Alzheimer's Illustrated: From Heartbreak to Hope.

Over 1,000 Quilts going to Houston!

2010-10-23T17:01:00.002-05:00

Click on the YouTube video below to see some of the quilts that will be available for sale at the AAQI booth in Houston this year. Since I began scanning and uploading the quilts to the website, I can assure you that there are some really fantastic pieces in the bunch and some that are just plain fun!

I Used to be a Tablecloth . . .

2010-10-23T15:23:00.002-05:00

Last in the series, finished and registered in the nick of time for Houston!

Finished "I Used to be a Pillowcase . . ."

2010-10-14T13:09:00.001-05:00

Just in time for Houston!

Lewy Body Dementia Week

2010-10-10T17:04:00.001-05:00

Dementia has many forms - this is the particular disease my Dad has. Take a look at the website and learn about LBD - the second most common form of dementia to Alzheimer's!

Finished "I Used to be a Placemat"

2010-10-10T16:20:00.001-05:00

Finally . . .

Earth Laugh 2

2010-08-31T11:47:00.003-05:00

My art has been "on hold" lately due to a very busy August, but I had a deadline (tomorrow) to meet on this, so I took some studio time and just did it. The title is Earth Laugh 2 and I just submitted it for consideration to the Dick Blick 12x12 show next month. It is a follow up to Earth Laugh 1, which was submitted for last year's 12x12 show. This is, again, a paper fabric background and the flower petals are also paper fabric, painted with caran d'ache watercolor crayons and finished with Liquitex Irridescent Medium (boy is that cool stuff!). The filaments had me stumped for awhile until I thought about hitting the hardware store to look at small tubing and realized I already had what I needed . . . zip ties! I just love mixed media pieces! I zigzagged them to make them look less plastic. The stamen are just felt with some wool roving inside.

I Used to be a Pillowcase

2010-08-01T19:11:00.004-05:00

And the third one still working it's way to reality. This one I re-attached some of the lace border on the other 3 sides and colored the background with caran d'ache crayons.

I Used to be a Place Mat

2010-08-01T18:41:00.002-05:00

I've got a series going here . . . not sure exactly how I'll quilt or finish this one - it's still deciding . . .

I Used to be a Dresser Scarf

2010-07-26T15:22:00.004-05:00

Went to a garage sale a couple weeks ago and picked up a grouping of 3 embroidered dresser scarfs for $1.75. This is what was salvageable from one ofthem - a quick 8"x8" Priority Quilt! The background is fabric paper given to me by Fannie Narte - thanks Fannie! The binding is pieces from a chiffon scarf.

Summer Breeze, Finished??

2010-06-24T09:26:00.002-05:00

I learned a few things with this piece. I don't like it as much with the soft watercolor edges trimmed off - and it's the canvas I used for a background - it gives the finished piece a rough texture that is the opposite of watercolor softness. I didn't see this until I trimmed it, but it's done and I'll make the best of it. I'm also wondering if it needs some "sparkle" - think I'll bead the centers of the flowers for sure and maybe even couch some gold thread along the binding.

Summer Breeze, phase 2

2010-06-13T13:38:00.002-05:00

Obviously, I don't work very fast! I finally sat down to fill in the grass detail this morning, using two different colors of variegated green thread, and I think I like it!

Summer Breeze

2010-06-09T14:54:00.003-05:00

Today I am beginning a new piece that has been in my "to do" pile for awhile. I read an article in QA about thread sketching an outline and filling in with watercolor pastels (too long ago to give credit where credit is due, sorry!). I also feel a bit like I'm lifting the idea from Fannie Narte, whose work often has this same soft look. This is canvas. I thread sketched the central flower then used black resist on it and on the background flowers. It needs refinement and detail - I'll let it set a bit and see if I want to thread paint details or use watercolor pencils ... or both!

Gone, Finished!

2010-05-25T22:14:00.004-05:00

Got my registration number, made the label and GONE is ready to go. The binding went on smoothly, but there was an unfortunate color change at the join - I'm tempted to use a little black water color to make it less obvious.

I like to make my labels special too, so I used the tree and some of the background color.

2010-05-24T11:52:00.001-05:00

I'm not sure I like the thread effect as much as I thought I would - might have been better with a thin poly black, but it is what it is. I do really like the two extra tiny footprints, though!

All that is left now is to square it up and bind it. I'm going to use the same hand dye black that I did for the trees.

Gone, Artist's Statement

2010-05-24T08:55:00.003-05:00

I really find it useful to blog about a piece, mainly because seeing the picture or scan online can give you perspective that having it right in front of you doesn't. Staring at it just now, I wrote the Artist's Statement, which will hang next to the piece - should it get juried into Alzheimer's Illustrated: From Heartbreak to Hope.

In a world suddenly awry with foreboding shapes and colors, the dementia sufferer wanders; looking for something familiar to anchor himself to. As his path gets more and more frightening, he is slowly gone, unreachable, and finally, lost forever.

Gone, Stage Three

2010-05-24T08:36:00.004-05:00

Back to the scanner today since I fused everything down yesterday. Next step is to thread paint the trees with this fab variegated black thread I found in the Superior Thread booth at Rosemont last month. This will give the bigger trees some texture and fill in the branches on all of them. Think I'll add one more tiny set of footprints too.

Gone, Stage Two

2010-05-23T09:53:00.004-05:00

After my week in FL for the MS150, I have finally gotten back to this, which is a good thing, because there's a deadline looming in less than a week. I'm adding the trees, will still be tweaking a few things on the two larger trees and need to add many more trees to the distant tree line, but I feel better now that I can see the design becoming real. A large chunk of the big tree will be trimmed to make the 9" wide requirement, so I'm not worrying too much about thinning it out.

Gone, The Beginning

2010-05-12T16:25:00.004-05:00

I decided to try making my blog a little more interesting by posting progress pictures of what I'm working on. Those of you that saw Solitude can guess where this is going . . .

Of course it's hard to guess when I forget to upload the picture before I hit "publish post."

This is more of my sister Beth's hand dyed silk from Quilters Stitch Together.

From Heartbreak to Hope Name Quilt

2010-05-08T16:08:00.004-05:00

This is a section from the third 6" wide by 7' long name quilts I'm quilting for the AAQI new exhibit Alzheimer's Illustrated: From Heartbreak to Hope. The three I've quilted will hang with 180 others, each bearing the names of 55 people who have or have died with Alzheimer's or a related dementia. Will mail Monday to Kathy Kennedy-Dennis in Houston for finishing!

One of the nicest parts of working with the AAQI is getting to know (even if it's just virtually) so many wonderful women from all over the country. The AAQI is totally volunteer-driven and it takes a lot of us! Quilters are wonderful people, in general, and really pitch in when someone needs help. Especially if they can do it using fabric, needle and thread! So, if you've ever wanted to make 9x12 quilts, you now have a purpose for them! Read Make a Donation Quilt.

The West Wing

2010-04-15T15:43:00.002-05:00

This is my latest Priority Quilt. I sent in the registration today . . .

Width: 11.5” Length: 9”

Materials/techniques: Background is commercial fabric, White House is printed on lutradur. Tree is Rust Tex and scraps of green commercial fabrics. Clouds are Angelina. TV set is made of etal painted black with a glossy print of the white house for a “screen”. Flag is a party toothpick.

Artist's Statement: I was lucky enough to read Ami’s blog at the right time when she was offering Allison Janney signature blocks. I wanted to do something different with it – something that said “West Wing” so I came up with the White House idea. This was fun!

Finished first of two name quilts

2010-03-19T14:32:00.007-05:00

This is a section from the first of two 6" wide by 7' long name quilts I'm quilting for the AAQI new exhibit Alzheimer's Illustrated: From Heartbreak to Hope. The two I'm doing will hang with 180 others, each bearing the names of 55 people who have or have died with Alzheimer's or a related dementia. I got the names for my two quilts, plus a few extra's from two places. A great many of them came from the Mather Pavilion in Evanston IL, where I volunteer on one of their two "special care" floors. The others I got from the Good Samaratian Home in Lodi WI, where my Dad now lives. I got many of the names from the Activities Directors of both institutions - who were familiar with many names of people who had lived there in the past, so I was able to tap both past and present residents.

Finished the second one, too and mailed them both off to Kathy Kennedy-Dennis in Houston for finishing!

Hand Sewn Sunshine on Etsy

2010-03-15T22:26:00.009-05:00

My quilt Let the Sun Shine was chosen for a special collection on Etsy called HAND SEWN SUNSHINE. This quilt was made as a result of an online class by Ellen Linder called Instant Art Quilts. Last I heard Ellen was still using it in her student sample gallery. It was really fun to make - basically you ripped up a piece of cool hand dye (gulp) and re-assembled it. It was a lesson in design, color, value and contrast. No buyer yet, but it's fun to be picked out!

Post It Notes

2010-03-12T08:30:00.002-06:00

I usually don't post about non-art-related stuff here, but I was just cleaning my keyboard with my ever-present Post Its and I remembered how grateful I was to read somewhere that you can use them to clean between keys on your keyboard. Love 'em for so many reasons!

Finally Finished Fear

2010-03-07T10:56:00.003-06:00

This is a quilt about fear, specifically about the fear a person feels when they realize their mind is not working right. When they can't think straight. When they can't remember the simplest things. My Dad has Loewy Body Disease, a variant of Alzheimer's tied to Parkinsonism. The symptoms are very much the same as any other dementia.

This 9"x12" quilt will be donated to the Alzheimer's Art Quilt Initiative, a 501(c)(3) organization raising money for Alzheimer's research.

As my family struggled through the early stages of the disease with Dad it was sometimes hard to remember that the motivation behind all the paranoia, anger, frustration and irritability was plain and simple fear. Try to imagine the devastating horror a person must go through as they get the diagnosis, and then realize that they are no longer capable of handling day-to-day situations. Imagine you can no longer remember names, and later, no longer remember the relationships. Strangers all around you, trying to get you to eat, take pills, take a shower, put clothes on. The disease progresses and there are only flashes when you realize with terror that you have no idea what is going on. The natural reaction is to find somebody or something to blame it on. To find a reason, other than that you are losing yourself, for this craziness that is happening.

I feel physical pain in my heart when I think about how terrifying it must have been for Dad to feel himself slipping away and be powerless to stop it. I get sick to my stomach when I think about the heriditary links and realize that I or one of my siblings may face this fear someday.

These days my Dad is beyond the fear. His irritability now stems from not being able to reason through why somebody is asking him to do something. As sad as it is to see him looking at me with blank eyes, I am glad he is no longer afraid. And there are those wonderful moments when he looks at me with love in his eyes, no longer knowing who I am but knowing that he loves me. When he smiles or reaches out for a hug. As horrible a price as he has paid for this "peace", I am glad it is finally his.

Solitude, reprise

2010-02-18T09:45:00.003-06:00

Finally, a sunny day! This still doesn't capture the silk, but I think it's the best I'm gonna do!

Solitude finished

2010-02-15T16:21:00.003-06:00

I'm going to have to wait for sun and re-take this picture and see if I can capture the "feel" - it's snow dyed silk from QST and it's GORGEOUS! It has a depth that isn't showing here because of the rivers of color through the silk.

This is another piece that has been sitting around for awhile - I intended to give it a thin border of the green and then bind it in black and even got so far as to sew the black binding on before I realized that the green was way better. So I ripped the black binding off and then had to do a fused binding with the green because the only piece I had left was 15" wide. No other green in my stash would do!

OWOH Winners!

2010-02-15T10:57:00.002-06:00

I've sent emails to Shona and Jenn. This was such fun again this year and I really appreciate everyone who stopped by and left a comment!

Almost Done!

2010-02-09T11:10:00.003-06:00

I admit, I work slow . . . I often let things sit around for awhile, waiting for that little voice to speak in my ear. This one is has been worked that way. I finally realized it was the flower centers that were bugging me, so I took a walk down to Ayla's Beads yesterday afternoon and found some really cool stuff. Although it's hard not to find cool stuff in that store! So the centers are on (one is a singleton earring given me by a neighbor) and I just need to stitch on a few butterfly beads and a (you're gonna love this, Beth) an awsome turtle bead I found yesterday.

I added an image transfer of some words (hope, love and research) to the background, and then FMQed the same words in a variegated thread. I added some grass and some roots, which I think help to weight the bottom sufficiently to offset the flowers and also take some of the emphasis off the word Fear. So far, I'm pretty happy with it and will be auditioning bindings next.

Chinese New Year Cards

2010-01-29T15:04:00.005-06:00

I have a couple of friends who always want me to design a Chinese New Year card for them. 2010 is the year of the tiger. Royalty free image from stockxchg - background removed, crumpled paper overlay, netting overlay. Chinese symbol for tiger, snagged off the internet somewhere . . .

Just listed it in my Etsy shop.

Fear (working post)

2010-01-27T11:10:00.002-06:00

I got this 9x12 future Priority Quilt laid out this morning. This quilt is about dementia, and how fear is the root of many the difficult behaviours. Ribbon stems are computer printed. Flowers (purchased as is) are a velvet paper that can be painted - I'm thinking watercolor purples, as purple is the color of the Alzheimer's Association. Need to add centers - only one came with a beaded center. Beth you might recognize one of your unique hand dyes in the background. Lois, that's one of your rusted fabrics as the dirt (also computer printed).
I will be adding leaves and am thinking of quilting the word "hope" in the background - but I'll have to practice that one for awhile! Ideas? Suggestions?

ONE WORLD ONE HEART GIVEAWAY!

2010-01-24T11:31:00.019-06:00

SECOND GIVEAWAY ADDED!
This initiative is really fun and you are exposed to blogs from all over the world . . . and they are reading yours too! If you are not familiar with OWOH, read all about it here:

My first give-away is pictured below - it's an altered 6x6 American Crafts Mini Album with ten 6"x6" fixed page protectors, that can hold 20 pages or sheets of paper back to back. I used ripped up printed napkins to make the outside cover, the inside is covered with a handmade (not by me, tho!) paper. A ribbon, heart ribbon buckle, tag, rose charm and some lovely chenille fiber make up the cover embellishments.

I plan to make at least one more, maybe two (I got a great price on the albums at House of Paper and these napkins from Joggles are way fun to work with!) so your chances of winning will increase with each one I get inspired to finish before this program ends.
NEW!
The inside looks just the same as above except I used yellow mulberry for the end flaps.

The fine print: You MUST have an active blog. You MUST leave a comment on my blog - and that post has to include a way I can contact you if you win. You can leave your email or you can leave your blog address (but make sure your "contact me" info is current on your blog!).

THE END - yes, all good things must end - is on February 15th - the day the winners will be posted. So the cut off for comments on my blog will be midnight on the 14th. I'll use a random number generator to pick the winners.

My Present to my Family

2010-01-12T08:35:00.006-06:00

This was an emotional journey turned learning experience. Dad has Loewy Body Disease - an Alzheimer's-like dementia. The idea for this collage was inspired by Marcia Middents, who created a Priority Alzheimer's Quilt with this concept. See Searching For Memories.

The digital collage was the easy part once I got past the tears of deciding which words and pictures to use. I wanted it to be heart-wrenching, yet somehow positive. The learning experience came in when I figured out how to cover artist stretcher bars with batting and fabric, backed it and got the hanging hardware on it. Many, many hot glue sticks were sacrificed! I made 5 of these - this is the one I kept for myself - the others all had different fabrics and embellishments.

I should go take another picture - this one is a bit blurry, but you get the idea.

Happy New Year All!

2010-01-01T14:11:00.004-06:00

I wish all of my blogging friends a happy and creative 2010!

Mine is starting off with a bang with two of my quilts on auction for the next 10 days at Alzheimer's Art Quilt Initiative.

PLAY BALL!

and
NESTING

Featured on Etsy!

2009-11-09T22:22:00.003-06:00

My quilt, All the Pieces Fit, was featured on Etsy Treasury List!
Here's the direct link to this item in my store.

Postcards for the AAQI

2009-11-08T16:12:00.002-06:00

I've been in the mood to use up scraps and recycle unfinished projects. These four postcards are the first results. They will be donated to the AAQI.

Artists for a Greener Evanston Show

2009-11-07T10:30:00.007-06:00

I got a piece in a small show last Wednesday - all recycled items. Had a pair of Beth's socks (QST) that I wore a hole in the heel of and couldn't bear to throw away. They were sitting on my worktable next to a piece of upholstery fabric a friend had given me and a picture of a bird that a blog friend Emily had drawn and the idea was born. The tree is made with a scrap of fabric that I saturated with gel medium and added scraps from old books to and then a final wash of gesso to tie it all together. The nest is made from used "color catcher" laundry sheets that I use to wipe up paint spills and clean brushes with.

Bamboo Bird

2009-10-31T15:09:00.003-05:00

I got some LOVELY snow-died silk from Beth at Quilters Stitch Together for my birthday. I got the courage to cut into it last night for a soon-to-be-disclosed project - and this scrap got made into a postcard. The black is actually also from QST - a cotton hand dye that I "stiffened" with gel medium and then backed with Steam-A-Seam 2.

Play Ball!

2009-10-31T09:54:00.002-05:00

This is a donation to the AAQI. It is made of a piece of silk somebody gave me - maybe it was once a dresser scarf or the like? It made for a perfect whole cloth piece - I just quilted the cone flowers on it (sort of echoing the flowers in the background pattern) and bound it.

WORLD QUILT FEDERATION SMACKDOWN

2009-10-26T12:23:00.006-05:00

Four Quilting Heavyweights Face Off to Fight Alzheimer's
As many of you know, the charity nearest and dearest to my heart is the Alzheimer's Art Quilt Initiative. Next month, from November 1-10, we are being treated to an opportunity to raise thousands of dollars for Alzheimer's research. If you follow the AAQI link above, the link to the Smackdown quilts is front and center - even if you are not a quilter you just have to go take a look at these four phenomenal pieces of art, donated by four of the top names in the quilting world. There is applique, there is trapunto, there is exquisite piecing, and my personal favorite is Fading by Hollis Chatelain - an amazingly beautiful piece of thread painting.
So, even if you are not wealthy enough to participate by bidding, come join me next week as I act as auctioneer for this fabulous group of quilts!

Basket of Flowers

2009-10-19T22:23:00.003-05:00

This digital art was done in response to a challenge on Dezinaworld. The background paper is by GypsyCoutoure and the lace is a Stampington freebie. The little girl was also a free image from a challenge blog, but I can't remember which one . . . my apologies!

Snowy Path

2009-10-19T13:59:00.003-05:00

I guess, as much as we don't want to admit it here in Chicagoland, we're in for another winter. I took this picture last winter and made it "artsy" in PSP. Yeah, snow is sometimes a pain, but sometimes it's really beautiful. These prints can be found in my Etsy shop. Thanks for looking!

My quilt used in a book by Lyric Kinard

2009-10-08T16:12:00.005-05:00

On page 102 is a small 9x12 quilt (which has been donated to the AAQI) that I made for Lyric Kinard showing the design principle of Motion and the design element of Shape. So as not to give away too much of Lyric's book, I just scanned my bit of the page . . .

Ami was on the radio!

2009-10-08T11:09:00.002-05:00

If you're reading my blog, you're probably aware of my dedication to the Alzheimer's Art Quilt Initiative. Ami Simms is the founder and driving force behind the 501(c)3 organization raising money for Alzheimer's research. She did a radio interview recently that was very moving and explains a lot about why she's doing what she's doing. You can hear the podcast of it here:
Ami's Interview Podcast and you can read her blog about the experience here: Ami's Blog.

My Studio

2009-10-03T16:21:00.005-05:00

I had all my supplies, sewing machine, and cutting table crammed into a little alcove off my living/dining room. One day I looked at the dining room table and chairs, which were a little worse for wear, and decided to give them away on freecycle. After that, I switched rooms - I moved my studio into the living/dining room and moved my couch, recliner and TV into the alcove. I live alone and don't cook, so wasn't worried about dinner parties! I love having the space to work and I have great light with patio doors and the dining room overhead fixture directly over my work table. Which is made with deep file cabinets stacked to counter height with a 60x72 table top covering them. Perfect!
I arranged my sewing machine, design wall and storage carts on another two walls of the room and have a wall of completed quilts that I haven't sold or given away on the 4th!

Postcard on Etsy

2009-09-30T08:29:00.005-05:00

This is such a pretty little piece of silk - given to me by a friend who buys vintage clothing. This particular blouse got cut up for other uses and he gave me this piece, which started out it's career as the cuff of a sleeve.

QA Open Studio Event

2009-09-28T14:11:00.003-05:00

The theme of the Fall 2009 issue of Studios is Open Studios, so we're kicking it off with a virtual tour, and you're invited to participate. Here’s how:

Step 1. Take pictures and/or video of your studio. Maybe your studio is a large, dedicated space or maybe it’s just a corner of the dining room. It doesn’t matter—we want to see it! And don’t worry that it isn’t perfect. Art is not about perfection. You can clean it up, leave it in its natural state—it’s up to you.

Step 2. Announce the tour on your blog/website and include the cover image of the Fall 09 Studios, linked to our website.

Once you’ve posted image and link, leave a link to your blog/website in the comments section of the In the Studio with Cate editor’s blog anytime before October 2.

Step 3. On October 3, post the images/video of your studio on your blog or website with a little commentary describing your creative space and what makes it special to you. Leave the post up through October 4, or as long as you like.

Nesting

2009-09-10T14:51:00.005-05:00

Finished this piece today. I'm going to submit it to another local art show (getting brave in my old age) called Artists for a Greener Evanston. Since this was made with all scraps or recycled material, it qualifies for a "green statement". The background is a scrap of upholstery fabric, the tree is paper-fabric made with a scrap of fabric and ripped up pages from old books put together with gel medium. The nest is made with a used color-catcher laundry sheet that I had mopped up a paint spill with and the birds are made of a pair of hand-dyed socks that I wore out the heel of. Binding is from a vintage skirt given to me by a friend who buys vintage clothing for his business and doesn't use all of it. Backing is even a scrap of fabric given to me by a neighbor, so the only "new" parts of the piece are the thread and the batting.

Earth Laugh 1 was accepted!!

2009-09-05T10:23:00.002-05:00

The show will run from 9/24 - 10/24 in the Dick Blick store in Evanston on Maple. WOO HOO!
See the original post with picture.

Happy Birthday Mark!

2009-09-04T17:12:00.003-05:00

Well, I just read on FB that my little bother Mark is leaving tomorrow morning for a birthday trip, so I figured I'd better get this up for him before he goes!

Strike a Pose

2009-08-31T15:12:00.003-05:00

In my continuing effort to clear off my design wall of half finished projects, I backed and bound this one this morning. It will go in my Etsy shop - wrong size for the Dick Blick show . . .

It's been awhile since I started this, but I remember the background being fabric and torn up pages from an old Reader's Digest Condensed book. Walnut ink wash and some burlap - then I added the yoga figures in black suede. Fused binding, silk back. Simple, yet striking!

Earth Laugh 1

2009-08-31T07:57:00.003-05:00

I've had this piece, unbound, on my design wall for many months. For even longer, I've had a series of 12x12 flower quilts in the back of my mind. The local Dick Blick store is having a 12x12 Art Show next month and I wanted to submit it for consideration, so naturally I had to finish the darned thing! So, here it is. I sent off the entry email and pictures last night.

You've all heard the Emerson quote "The earth laughs in flowers" . . . well this is the first of a series of Laughs.

Blowin' in the Wind

2009-08-29T09:28:00.002-05:00

This is a piece I created to help a fellow PAQA member Lyric Kinard write a book called
Art + Quilt: Design Principles and Creativity Exercises. It has a handpainted background, quilted in horizontal and diagonal lines. Flower petals are made from paper fabric, stems are fused commercial fabrics. Flower centers are painted fabric covered with Diamond Glaze. I haven't seen the book yet, and frankly am not even sure that my piece was used, but it was fun to do it. Plus, the size makes it perfect to donate to the AAQI.

Turn Around

2009-08-29T09:13:00.002-05:00

This is a Priority Quilt for the AAQI. My niece Grace has been to visit me a few tmes lately and hand (er . . . finger) painting is one of her favorite things to do. I took a couple of pieces of her artwork and scanned them, digitally combined them and added the song lyrics. Then printed it out on fabric and made a quilt out of it!

Joy

2009-08-27T18:04:00.003-05:00

Another Quote Challenge from Paper Whimsy. Another lovely Hilda Conking poem.

Aztec

2009-08-27T09:21:00.003-05:00

Bringing up a digital piece I did in January to fit this week's Theme Thursday theme. This piece actually started as a picture of my light fixture. I added a picture (Dover royalty-free) of some sort of Aztec looking design and blended it on "multiply". That was pretty much it! I added a quote and called it done!

Lady Grace

2009-08-16T12:02:00.003-05:00

This is an older piece, but when I read the challenge prompt was "hats" at The Three Muses, I just had to bring it back out for a reprise! This is a Dover silouette that I colored and added a picture of my niece Grace to.

Ragtime!

2009-08-15T18:09:00.003-05:00

SoArtfulChallenge
Template from ScrappingwithLiz
Dancers from clikr.com
Paper by ssdkb

Speak to Me . . .

2009-08-01T22:05:00.007-05:00

This piece was done for a challenge at Artarazzi. Fairy is a purchased image from iStockPhoto. Background by "FC" - didn't save info on where I got it, sorry!

Patriot Guard

2009-07-26T15:42:00.003-05:00

My brother Mark is a member of the Minnesota Patriot Guard and a Marine Dad. I am proud of both he and my nephew Luke.

For those of you who haven't heard of the Guard, here is a bit off the National web page:

The Patriot Guard Riders is a diverse amalgamation of riders from across the nation. We have one thing in common besides motorcycles. We have an unwavering respect for those who risk their very lives for America’s freedom and security. If you share this respect, please join us.

We don’t care what you ride or if you ride, what your political views are, or whether you’re a hawk or a dove. It is not a requirement that you be a veteran. It doesn't matter where you’re from or what your income is; you don’t even have to ride. The only prerequisite is Respect.

Our main mission is to attend the funeral services of fallen American heroes as invited guests of the family. Each mission we undertake has two basic objectives:

1. Show our sincere respect for our fallen heroes, their families, and their communities.
2. Shield the mourning family and their friends from interruptions created by any protestor or group of protestors.

We accomplish the latter through strictly legal and non-violent means.

Credits on the artwork:
Flag photo is my own.
Motorcycle picture off the MN Patriot Guard web page
Quote from a recent newspaper article.
Background by DLD of k-joi studios
Stone wall by lizarddaudesigns, also of k-joi
Pledge overlay by heatheranndesigns

Family

2009-07-25T13:01:00.002-05:00

This started out with an image from Artarazzi, but the focal point is a statue grouping I got a photo of when I was downtown (Chicago) wandering around the other day. Couldn't find a plaque with the name of the piece or the artist. Anyway, added bits are a doodle by akiloune, an edger by KPertiet, and a trellis vine by Cali. There are a few other bits in there, but since I haven't always been good about keeping track of where I get things, I can't give credit.

Another giveaway!

2009-07-25T12:10:00.001-05:00

Melissa Bove is giving away a Slice and a bunch of other fun stuff! Creating from The Heart

Circus in Town

2009-07-22T20:52:00.002-05:00

Two For Tuesday challenge blog provided a digital stamp of a vintage motorcyclist - I changed a few things and have him driving into town for a circus!

The White Cloud

2009-07-22T17:00:00.003-05:00

I need to keep in touch with the paper side of mixed media art, so I've been doing challenges at Paper Whimsy. They provide a poem and a page of images to go with it and you have to follow a couple of other rules, but it is fun and something different twice a month.

Never Land

2009-07-22T11:00:00.002-05:00

I have always loved Peter Pan because I was lucky to have received a gift as a child a 1952 edition of the Golden Press Peter Pan book with wonderful illustrations by the Walt Disney Studio (adapted by John Hench and Al Dempster). The book is falling apart and I've searched in vain for another copy exactly like it - the newer editions are not the same!

Credits: Background is scanned from the book. Text is quoted from the book.
Map and compass from stock.xchng
Ribbon by Rhonna Farrer
Overlay by KPertiet

Pheasant

2009-07-19T14:06:00.003-05:00

This piece is for this week's Artarazzi challenge. We were given a picture of sake barrels. I chose to make them the deep background layered under a couple of dover images and a Japanese proverb that I found very enigmatic.

Swan Lake Reprise

2009-07-16T19:21:00.007-05:00

Seth from The Altered Page has sponsored a marvelous blog train idea called Buried Treasure.

I chose to reprise this bit of buried treasure that because of timing, didn't get as many views as I'd have liked.
The theme at Sunday Postcard Art was Swan Lake. This is my digital interpretation of Odette, a ballerina princess turned into a swan by an evil sorcerer's curse.

Dance!

2009-07-15T14:17:00.002-05:00

The Three Muses challenge this week is word soup. I saw this as a bit of a quote on an email this morning and it immediately had to be made into a piece.

Two Creative Studios Giveaway!

2009-07-15T09:37:00.002-05:00

Two Creative Studios is having a great giveaway! Read all about it here

Birdy, Birdy

2009-07-14T21:46:00.002-05:00

This piece is for Two For Tuesday - the silouette was one of their inspiration pieces. The background from a kit called Camping Out by KimB, the blackbirds are by KPertiet, and I'm afraid I don't remember where the flower doodles came from.

Fairy in the Garden

2009-07-13T15:45:00.002-05:00

This one is for Gothic Arches which is a membership only site, so if you'd like to join in the fun, email me.

Crisis

2009-07-13T12:32:00.002-05:00

This is for the Art Creations Friday challenge - they provided the background for inspiration. Dragon is from Dover.

ET Phone Home

2009-07-11T12:15:00.005-05:00

This requires some explaination . . .
The Artarazzi challenge this week is a picture of a cell phone. OK - nothing creative running through my head. Then I notice that the screen saver on the cell phone is this big splash and drops of water. Boing! I remembered this picture of a crop circle that I'd extracted a few months ago and never did anything with. So that's how this was born. The screensaver is in there, really, but I added a splash of water from stock.xchang 'cause it was pretty small after I cropped it out of the phone. I added some drops and some sparkles by Cali and the frame is from KPertiet. There's a concrete stairway in there too, extracted and flipped - for texture and perspective. And because the crop circle is so strange and alien looking I added the phone and the ET Phone Home text.

Christina

2009-07-09T21:55:00.003-05:00

This is for Theme Thursday pink and brown challenge. I started with Andrew Wyeth's Christina's Word painting, heightened the pink, changed the background to one by GypsyCoutoure and added a bridge by merepouleand.

Found a fun blog

2009-07-08T16:39:00.007-05:00

She's giving away a Cuttlebug! Creating from The Heart